COVINGTON, Ky. — DHL Express, a global leader in international express shipping, announced it would expand its current operations at CVG Airport in Boone County with a $192 million total investment creating 86 quality Kentucky jobs.
The investment will include the development of a new 305,200-square-foot aircraft maintenance facility on a 50-acre site located south of and adjacent to DHL’s current CVG Airport hub. The project will also include the addition of eight new aircraft gates at its current ramp to support CVG hub operations and repurpose the existing aviation and line maintenance space in Building 3. The project will boost the company’s total Kentucky employment to over 3,800.
“Our Americas hub at CVG is one of three DHL global superhubs and completes the backbone of our intercontinental network,” said Mike Parra, CEO for DHL Express, Americas region. “With its strategic location at the heart of our U.S. network, the CVG hub plays a vital role in our regional operations and the service we provide to our customers. We are honored and excited to be able to continue investing in the state, expanding our footprint, and adding a carbon-neutral, state-of-the-art facility for the maintenance operations of our growing fleet.”
DHL is part of DHL Group, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, and is a global leader in mail, delivery and logistics. With approximately 395,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling sustainable global trade flows. In 2009, DHL established its global Americas air hub at CVG, and it has grown nearly yearly. The hub sits at the heart of the DHL U.S. network with 130 daily flights and a fleet of 60 aircraft. It is also one of three DHL global superhubs, with the other two based in Hong Kong and Germany. The CVG hub handles shipments bound for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America, processing approximately 50 million international shipments annually.
Candace McGraw, CEO at CVG Airport, noted DHL’s importance in Kentucky’s growing economy: “DHL is a valued long-time partner, and we’re pleased they continue to invest at CVG. DHL’s global superhub is integral to our regional and state economies. Its success is contingent on having the facilities and workforce able to serve the global air cargo industry, and this development aligns with our vision to expand aircraft maintenance and support services on campus.”
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in July 2023 approved DHL Express for up to $1 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
In addition, DHL Express can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
For more information on DHL Express, visit dhl.com.
